DiDRM int'l conference begins with 33 countries

FT ONLINE

More than 100 experts from 33 countries will gather in Dhaka on Tuesday for discussing different aspects on Disability and Disaster Risk Management (DiDRM) as Dhaka is set to host an international conference on DiDRM for the second time.

"We are the only country in the world that focuses disability and disaster management at the highest level.... This conference is another milestone for us to show our capacity to international area as the role model of disaster management," Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya told reporters at a pre-event briefing in the capital.

Maya said Bangladesh is going to hold the 2nd conference with the inspiration, patronization and guidelines of Saima Hossain, the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is the international focal point of advisory group on DiDRM, Bangladesh and WHO's goodwill ambassador for autism in South-East Asia region.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the three-day conference at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) while Saima Hossain will chair some technical sessions.

The minister said they are expecting 3,000 representatives including 110 world renowned experts from 33 countries including host Bangladesh to attend the conference that is designed with five plenary sessions, 14 sideline events and 2 special events under the theme of Disability inclusive disaster risk management - yesterday and today.

Maya said Bangladesh is the first country that held the first ever international conference on disability and DRM in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR) in 2015 and adopting Dhaka declaration with eight goals.

Sendai Framework the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, endorsed by the UN General Assembly following the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR).

Maya said the main objective of the 2nd conference is to share knowledge & experience and to identify future actions for inclusive implementation of the Sendai Framework, its regional plans and the Dhaka Declaration 2015 as well as disability inclusive humanitarian actions.

The conference this year will also focus on addressing disability issues in the humanitarian crisis, which was strongly highlighted in the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 and in relevant documents, he said.

After the conference, the minister said another Dhaka declaration will be adopted with some fresh goals.

He said both Indonesia and the Philippines have already showed their interest to hold the 3rd conference in their countries in 2021. "It will also be decided during the conference," he added.

The Dhaka Declaration, adopted during the 1st conference in Dhaka, supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework by calling for inclusion and the full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all disaster risk management programs, including specific actions to be undertaken by 2017.

The Dhaka Declaration found due prominence as it was promoted at international, regional and at national levels by different agencies.

The Declaration was made available in the accessible format, translated into different languages and referred to during the development of inclusive DRR plans and roadmaps in the light of the Sendai Framework.

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